In May 2004, RAM Promotion Group (RAMPRG), the governing body behind the DVD-RAM format, announced to the world plans for the next generation of DVD Multi drives and DVD-RAM discs. The highlights of these plans are the latest 5x DVD-RAM write speed and its supporting 5x DVD-RAM media. At this new write speed, DVD-RAM will theoretically (by number of write speed at least) be the fastest DVD rewritable media around. Prior to this announcement, DVD-RAM hasn't been known to champion any rewriting records and by sheer volume isn't as popular and widely utilized as its illustrious DVD '-' and '+' counterparts. As far as the format is concerned, DVD-RAM with its 'Chasing Playback' and 'Time Slip' abilities is a dominant format primarily in Japan and in countries where digital video recorders flourished.

A member of RAMPRG, Hitachi-LG Data Storage Incorporated is the first to inject this new 5x DVD-RAM recording speed into their latest Super Multi DVD rewriter, the GSA-4120B. Similar to its predecessors in more ways than one, the GSA-4120B is capable of writing to DVD '+' and '-' formats at 12x and 8x respectively but with one added ability previously not found on the older Super Multi DVD rewriters, the DVD+R DL format. The inclusion of this 8.5GB format means the GSA-4120B is a true all-rounder when compared to its competition since it's adept at handling all existing DVD formats. From a consumer point of view, this means the best bang for the buck minus the concerns for the numerous optical storage formats available.